I don't really understand when people go for genuine stuff just for the sake of it. It's not to say genuine stuff is not good, but most of the time you are fleeced for brand loyalty.
What do you mean by 'fake' when you say oil filter? Heck, it's fake when toyota has not made it and you have the name toyota on it box.
I for one have made it to experiment. I've tried Guard, Qaim, Leppon and VIC oil filters. I know the parts marked SGP (Suzuki Genuine) are most of the counterfeit parts i.e. I am paying for genuine but not getting genuine, unless and until I buy them from a dealership. The dealership would be extremely costly, and in the end the engine life I would be getting is a mere extra 20k km.
Well I have tried different filters and found out that with Guard/Qaim filters (Rs. 80) the oil turns blackish after 1000 or so km (which means the filter element has failed and the oil is running through the bypass valve, and hence no further filtration is happening), whereas using Leppon this interval is around 2500 km. With VIC C110 (made in Japan), the oil on the dipstick is as golden as new when I check it after 5000 km (when change is due). It means that VIC filter is best even though it sets me back Rs. 225.
Hence VIC is better than Guard/Qaim. It doesn't take rocket sience to undertand that. The Genuine SGP parts are repacked Guard. Hence by my own judgement I am able to buy a thing better than OEM. Correct?
Suzuki still fits cotton-gauze air filters to all their cars (Rs. 130). It has to be replaced every 5000 km and air-blown every 2500 km. I buy Nitco (made in Malaysia) paper type, never get it air-blown (doesn't choke so easily) and replace every 25000 km. Rs. 210. Which is more expensive, when the filtration you get from paper type is also better?
My boys the genuine stuff is not always better. It is usually expensive and there are other, cheaper options available in the market, which are better in the sense that they are longlife, and they will cause no harm or shorten the life of your engine.
What you use is your own judgement and EXPERIMENT for God's sake. I for one have never re-bought any engine oil. There are so many options in the market, I want to try each and every one.
I feel very angry when somebody comes and tells me so and so brand name is very good, just because they heard from somebody. I for one experiment with everything (my great benefit is that our cars run a lot). E.g. I've tried Nippon, MK Kashiyama, SGP, Schnieder, local made (unbranded), Tasaki and Asuki brand brake pads/shoes in my car so I can give a first hand knowledge on the wear, life, performance, price etc. of every one of them. Why don't you people also do the same instead of sticking with genuine things? Not saying genuine is bad but its really expensive and it stifles your learning if you keep sticking to the brand your grandad once bought.
What of you buy some other ail filter of some other material? If its not so good, the only thing that would happen is that it would choke earlier. Then you'd at least have the knowledge that 'falaana' brand is inferior to 'falaana' brand. It won't blow your engine, right?
To reiterate, I don;t in the first place see the need to search for 'original' items. If you shop carefully, you'll find parts even better than genuine or recommended.